In Her Eyes

Mom's Touch

Lauren’s mother does the honors of placing the veil in her daughter’s hair.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Mellow Yellow

5/50

To go along with her yellow wedding color, Lauren found these beautiful marigold wedding pumps to wear on her big day.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

A Second Look

6/50

At first glance Lauren did not like the Pricilla of Boston wedding gown she eventually chose.

“The bridal consultant said, ‘you can try it on first to get it out of the way.’” Lauren remembers. “So I tried it on and it ended up being my dress. She put a broach on it and it just made it come alive.”

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Like Mother Like Daughter

7/50

Lauren’s big sister, ESSENCE.com Beauty Editor Tia Williams and her daughter show off their bright smiles.

“My sister’s wedding was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen,” Tia says, “and not just because she art-directed every detail with Martha Stewart-like precision. The wedding reflected Lauren and Malik’s love and their love of family in the sweetest, most touching way.”

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Brotherly Love

8/50

Malik and his groomsmen take some time out to chill before heading down the aisle.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Where My Girls At?

9/50

Lauren’s bridesmaids stand beside their friend and sister on her big day.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Monumental Love

10/50

For this couple that fell in love so close to the nation’s capitol, historic D.C. was the perfect place to celebrate their union.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Mother's Love

11/50

Malik shares a private moment with his mother before heading to the altar.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Daughter Dearest

12/50

Just before heading off to start a new life with Malik, Lauren takes a time-out to share a smile with her mom and dad.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Sister Sister

13/50

Lauren chose her two sisters as her matrons of honor.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Feels Like Spring

14/50

Lush yellow roses for the bridal bouquet keep the spring theme going.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Daddy's Girl

15/50

Lauren and her father play a quick game before walking down the aisle.

Flower Girl

16/50

Lauren’s darling niece tiptoes down the aisle.

Feeling Emotions

17/50

Lauren tears up a little while reading her vows to Malik.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

With Thing Ring

18/50

Malik places the wedding band on his beloved.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Made With Love

19/50

Lauren’s cousin designed the couple’s wedding bands. The bride’s is a two-piece band made to curve around her engagement ring and Malik’s band features a jagged line of diamonds that run through the center of his ring.

“They are very special,” Lauren says.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Sealed With A Kiss

20/50

The happy newlyweds kiss as husband and wife for the first time.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

So Excited

21/50

Lauren and Malik revel in their newlywed status as they walk down the aisle together as husband and wife at last.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

All In The Family

22/50

Malik’s folks welcome Lauren into their family with open arms.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Love Is Bubbling Over

23/50

“He has this infectious positivity around him at all times,” Lauren says of Malik, “and it rubs off and makes everyone happy. He’s just an amazing person and everyone loves him.”

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Never Too Much

24/50

“Now that we’re married, we don’t want to be away from each other for one second,” the new wife says.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Every Minute of Every Day

25/50

“I had to go to New York for work last week, and it was painful to be away from him for one day,” Lauren says of never wanting to spend another day away from Malik.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

So Happy Together

26/50

“We joke that in a few years we’ll be like, ’isn’t your next business trip coming up soon?’” Lauren kids. “But for now, we’re in wedded bliss.”

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Light Up My Life

27/50

The golden lights in the reception hall add warmth to this joyous family gathering.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Lemon Fresh

28/50

Lauren’s wedding coordinator Sara Muchnick of Engaging Affairs helped he find a florist that would add an extra touch of spring to each of her tables.

My Other Half

“He brings out the best in me,” Lauren says of her new husband. “And I hope that I do the same for him.”

Dance With My Father

30/50

Lauren’s father smiles proudly at his newlywed daughter as the two dance to Stevie Wonder’s “As.”

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Lover's Waltz

31/50

For their first dance as husband and wife, Lauren and Malik danced to Jill Scott’s “Not Like Crazy.”

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Lost In Your Love

32/50

Malik and Lauren are lost in each other’s eyes as the two dance together on their wedding day.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Hug It Out

33/50

Malik is congratulated with big hugs.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Design of a Decade

34/50

Lauren also designed and assembled the menus for her wedding reception.

Photo by Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images

Hey Cupcake

35/50

“I think a lot of people are shying away from cakes,” Lauren said of choosing cupcakes for her wedding day, “I wanted the option to have a variety of flavors. And it’s a lot less expensive.”

Lauren and Malik’s wedding desserts were made by Fluffy Thoughts and included cupcakes made with blackberry buttercream filling with lemon buttercream frosting and lemon buttercream filling with vanilla frosting.